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Northern News, 06 Mar 2015 - I do strongly object if you openly disregard the values of this community and then expect the community to support your cause. On Monday we saw something in Kirkland Lake that we don't often see, a protest march.

National Post, 06 Mar 2015 - Re: Tories Mull Ticketing For Pot Possession, March 4. Ticketing those possessing small amounts of cannabis is an idea whose time has come, particularly if it were combined with a few lessons in the dangers of its use. For instance, Robin Murray, a British psychiatrist and expert on mental health and cannabis use, says one in four people carries the gene that predisposes him or her to psychosis induced by high-potency marijuana. A "three tokes" law is what is needed. First offence, you get a ticket and you go to "dope school;" if you are a minor, your parents accompany you. Second offence, you are ticketed and fined. Third offence means criminal charges.

Coast Reporter, 06 Mar 2015 - Answer: The Sunshine Coast RCMP often receives reports about suspected grow operations from residents who are apprehensive about the associated smells and activities. There are currently two types of grow ops: illegal ones, and legal (medicinal) ones. Medicinal grow ops were permitted to operate by Health Canada under the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR), which have now been replaced by the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR); however, due to a Federal Court interim injunction, "individuals who were previously authorized to grow marijuana under the MMAR, and who meet the terms of the Court order, will be able to continue to do so on an interim basis until the Court reaches a final decision" (see http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marihuana/index-eng.php for details).

Toronto Star, 06 Mar 2015 - After a false start as a 1970s bedroom community, Mississauga may have finally found its civic calling - industrial agriculture. It could well become the bread basket of the GTA. Where once the talk was all about call centres, today it's aquaponics. As for those branch plants former mayor Hazel McCallion bragged about for years, pretty soon they could all be medical marijuana farms, grow-ops by any other name.

Vancouver Sun, 06 Mar 2015 - Re: Colorado's first year lucrative, Business, March 3 We are sandwiched between Alaska and Washington (not to mention Oregon and Colorado), states which have legalized marijuana in the last year.

Globe and Mail, 06 Mar 2015 - The RCMP had no data to back up their claims that medical marijuana grow operations under Canada's old licensing system were inherently dangerous to producers and magnets for violent thieves and organized criminals, an expert told the Federal Court Thursday. RCMP Corporal Shane Holmquist, a supervisor on the Federal Serious Organized Crime Section's marijuana enforcement team, made headlines last year when he filed his affidavit in this case stating there was an "overwhelming temptation" for growers licensed under the old federal medical marijuana system to divert extra pot to the black market. His affidavit also stated that such producers face risks from mould, fire and electrical hazards and also attract organized crime groups because, quoting a 2005 RCMP report, "marihuana cultivation and trafficking represents the single most common (and most lucrative) activity pursued by organized crime."

The Georgia Straight, 05 Mar 2015 - Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau has reaffirmed his support for an expansion of supervised injection services across Canada. At the same event, the would-be prime minister also restated his belief that hard drugs should not be decriminalized. Trudeau was speaking in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia on March 4.

The Calgary Sun, 05 Mar 2015 - Officials Report Falling Fatalities From PMMA Use The war against a toxic street stimulant that recently killed dozens in western Canada is bearing fruit, say those waging it. Between 2011 and 2012, the ingestion of paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) claimed 27 lives in Alberta and B.C. - 20 of those in Alberta - - an unheard of toll, said Dr. Mark Yarema of Alberta Health Services.

Montreal Gazette, 05 Mar 2015 - Re: "Ticketing for marijuana possession on Tory radar" ( Montreal Gazette, March 4) My problem with issuing tickets for small amounts of marijuana is that it does not address the main problem of drug pushers. We call them drug pushers for a reason. Dealers ( pushers) are criminals with very little regard for the well-being of their customers. Often, the first time a person is introduced to harder drugs, the suggestion to give it a try comes from their pusher. I want to know that my children are safe from that influence. Justin Trudeau has the right idea. Legalize it, control it and tax it. Take the power out of criminal hands.

Toronto Star, 05 Mar 2015 - City responsible for location and proper use of medical pot Mississauga is set to become the first city in Canada to license and regulate the production of medical marijuana. "The federal government legalized these operations, but we're the ones eventually responsible for where they're located and the enforcement of them," said Councillor Jim Tovey, after a committee vote on a new bylaw that passed Wednesday.

The General Social Survey for the first time has a majority for marijuana legalization, DC cops start returning arrestees' marijuana, a Utah medical marijuana bill is still alive, Canada's Tories ponder decriminalization, Britain's Lib Dems talk drug policy reform, and more.

[image:1 align:left caption:true]Marijuana Policy

"Gold Standard" of Polls Finds Majority Support for Legalization Nationwide. For the first time, the General Social Survey, considered to be the gold standard for public opinion polls, has a majority of Americans favoring legalization. The survey, conducted between March and October of last year, has 52% saying pot should be legalized, with 42% opposed, and 7% undecided. Support for legalization is up nine points over the last General Social Survey, conducted two years ago. As recently as 1996, only 32% supported legalization.

DC Police Return Arrestee's Marijuana. This is what happens when pot is legal. A man who had been arrested and released at the 6th District police station in Northeast DC demanded that police return his marijuana. "You have my marijuana, you have my weed," witnesses reported the man saying. The cops gave it back. "This property was less than two ounces of marijuana, and was returned to the arrestee with the other property held at the time of his arrest," explained Gwendolyn Crump, the DC police department's chief spokeswoman.

Georgia Legalization Bill Filed. State Sen. Curt Thompson (D-Tucker) has filed a bill that would legalize marijuana and allow retailers to sell up to two ounces at a time to people 21 and over. The bill is not yet available on the legislative website.

Responsible Ohio Files Revised Legalization Proposal. The group, which wants to create 10 designated commercial grows in the state for its financial backers, handed in 3,164 signatures along with its revised constitutional amendment initiative language. State Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) had earlier rejected the group's initial ballot summary language. If the new language is approved, Responsible Ohio must gather 305,000 valid voter signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Medical Marijuana

Kettle Falls Four Win Acquittal on Most Counts. A federal jury in Spokane acquitted the medical marijuana-growing family of four out of five counts, including the most serious ones, but found them guilty of growing between 50 and 100 plants. Federal prosecutors brought the case despite marijuana being legal in Washington state and despite federal guidance that suggests they shouldn't have. They continued the prosecution after Congress passed language barring the Dept. of Justice from spending funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. After the verdicts were read, prosecutors sought to jail the four pending sentencing, much to the disbelief of the courtroom crowd, but the judge didn't go for that.

Utah Medical Marijuana Bill Moves. A bill that appeared delayed only a day earlier was approved for a third Senate reading Tuesday night. Senate Bill 259 would allow people with qualifying illnesses to use marijuana in edible or liquid form and would establish dispensaries to distribute it. If the Senate approves it one more time, it then goes to the House.

Drug Testing

West Virginia Welfare Drug Testing Bill Killed. Sponsor of the bill, Del. Patrick Lane (R) conceded today that the bill was dead for the session after the House voted yesterday to table it. The bill would have mandated drug testing based on reasonable suspicion.

Law Enforcement

Detroit Cops Launch 17th Mass Drug Raid. Police Chief James Craig's Operation Restore Order resulted in the city's 17th mass drug raid yesterday. Nearly 180 officers were involved, but at the flagship bust of the day, a "drug house," police found no one, only a small amount of drugs, but managed to shoot and kill a pit bull. Craig said the raids have resulted in 1,172 arrests, the vast majority on drug charges, and the seizure of $4.5 million worth of drugs. He didn't say whether they had had any demonstrable impact on drug availability in the city.

International

Canada Tories Ponder Decriminalization Bill. The Conservatives are considering whether to introduce a bill to let police issue tickets to people caught with small amounts of marijuana. The decision on whether to move forward in the current parliament, which only lasts another 12 weeks, is in the hands of Justice Minister Peter McKay. Even if no bill is filed this session, Tories could use the notion as a means of countering the Liberals in forthcoming elections. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has called for outright legalization.

British Lib Dems Promise Drug Policy Reforms. Liberal Democrat Party leader Nick Clegg said today his party would hand control over drug policy from the Home Office to the Department of Health, review marijuana legalization in the US, and consider decriminalization. The party, which is an uneasy junior partner with the Conservatives, says their proposals are "the most far-reaching drug reform policies ever put forward by a major political party ahead of an election."

Mexico Nabs Zetas Cartel Leader Omar Trevino Morales. The Zetas leader is only the latest of an ever-growing list of top drug gang leaders captured or killed by Mexican authorities. Trevino Morales, known as "Z-42," was arrested in a predawn raid in Monterrey. He is the brother of Zetas leader Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, who was arrested in 2013. The Zetas' other original leader, Heriberto Lazcano, was killed by Mexican marines in 2012.

Mexico Cartel Violence Spiking in Tamaulipas. The northeastern state, which borders Texas's Rio Grande Valley region is seeing road blockades, assaults on media, and deadly shootouts. At least 12 people were killed in Reynosa and Matamoros shoot-outs last month, and two more were killed in Nuevo Progreso last Saturday. The violence is being blamed on rival factions of the Gulf Cartel.

Similkameen Spotlight, 04 Mar 2015 - Baby Orajel, Children's Tylenol, antibiotics for an ear infection, these are the medicines most parents of a toddler keep in the cupboard over the bathroom sink. Ashley Aitchison and Clayton Swanson have something else - medical marijuana oil they are forced to obtain illegally as the only hope of bringing relief and a chance of development to their two-year-old son Remington.

Prince George Citizen, 04 Mar 2015 - Startling statistics on fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths have prompted police and health authorities to issue a public warning - particularly to recreational pot users. Vancouver police Const. Sandra Glendinning - at a news conference Monday to highlight the lethal risks of the synthetic drug - said investigators are now finding fentanyl turning up in batches of seized marijuana.

Northern News, 04 Mar 2015 - KIRKLAND LAKE - The protest against the law that allows police to confiscate merchandise that could be used for the consumption of illicit substances attracted about 30 people Monday evening. The protest was being held to support the Tripping Daisy and its owner Darren Delaney after The OPP Organized Crime Unit executed a search warrant on the business Feb. 5, 2015 and according to the owner confiscated about $25,000 worth of merchandise. The OPP have since laid a charge against Delaney.

Whistler Question, 03 Mar 2015 - Again this week the skiing and boarding was better than we have the right to expect given the weather. The bowls and faces off of the Symphony Chair were frozen solid with a dusting of snow blown into pockets giving the chance of a few connected turns in untracked fresh, albeit not deep, snow. Where the faces had been blown clean it was relatively easy to get an edge in. Given the alternatives there is nothing wrong with skiing conditions akin to a buffed GS course in a wide-open bowl on a sunny day.

Globe and Mail, 03 Mar 2015 - Vancouver police and provincial health officials have launched a new campaign to raise awareness about fentanyl, an opioid 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine that they say is responsible for an increasing number of deaths in British Columbia. Last year, fentanyl was detected in a quarter of the province's 336 drug overdose deaths, a sharp increase from just 5 per cent of deaths in 2012, the officials said in a news release. Most of those deaths were men aged 20 to 49.

The Western Star, 03 Mar 2015 - On Aug. 4, 2011, two men were handcuffed and made to sit on a rock alongside the highway for an hour and a half while RCMP officers searched their rental vehicle based on a suspicion there may be drugs inside. The reasons for the officer's suspicions were this: The two men had fishing gear, but limited knowledge of Newfoundland and Labrador's fishing practices; the car was rented in a third party's name; they were travelling from Ontario, a supposed known source for drug importation; contents inside the car indicated the men's trip was for a longer time than they had indicated to the officer; and the presence of hand sanitizer, sometimes used to mask drug scents.

Metro, 03 Mar 2015 - Fentanyl. Detected in 25% of overdose deaths in B.C. last year B.C. police and health officials are warning casual drug users of the dangers of fentanyl following a spike in overdose deaths. Police say fentanyl, a powerful narcotic prescribed by doctors in patch form for severe pain, has been showing up mixed with street drugs like heroin and even marijuana.